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Source: NMHS Newsletter Nov 2002

The First Kindergarten

Information from Dr.
L. Z. Bunker

First kindergarten was
started in 1907 and continued until 1910. A Mrs.
Edna Boots was the teacher. Her husband was in
business with a Mr. Goldsmith and they had a
general merchandise store on Main St. Mrs. Boots
had 5 children of her own which included a set
of twins. She was remembered as a large woman
with blue eyes, dark blond hair worn in a
pompadour. Her usual dress was a shirtwaist and
skirt. She was a kind, caring woman.

The large living room of her
home was given over to the approximately twelve
5-year-olds who came to her kindergarten. The
children sat on chairs around a counter type
table with legs sawed off to accommodate the
children. A one horse cab called a hack was sent
to pick up the children, deliver them to the
school and pick them up and return them home
each day. They attended five days a week.

There was a fee to attend
this private school and the children who
attended were considered privileged children.
Dr. Bunker remembers the Tom Wetzel, Joe Urschel
and Vera Hayes were among her classmates. She
remembers being sent to school each day wearing
a clean white apron over her dress and a clean
white handkerchief in her apron pocket. The
school was structured; there was a plan for each

day. The children did hand
work at the tables such as place mats. They were
developing eye and hand coordination. Dr. Bunker
recalls carrying a pair of blunt scissors each
day on a string around her neck.

The children were very good,
quiet and well behaved. No discipline was
necessary as that was done at home and the
children knew how to behave. Occasionally the
children played but there was not much play.
They were not taught to read but those that
attended were considered ahead of others in the
regular school. No rest time or naps were taken
at school nor was a snack provided. There was no
pressure to perform but projects were done
nicely and the atmosphere was a calm one.